Looking for a New Year’s resolution?

The New Year starts with good resolutions and, more importantly for companies, with goal setting. Over time, increasing employee engagement has become a fashionable goal; however, the path towards this goal is beset with obstacles and paved with fear. What is it that the strange and dangerous animal ‘the employee’ really wants? And might striving for more employee engagement open the door to unreasonable demands?

As is usual in life, human relationships are often difficult, but can be improved by taking simple measures. What about asking how employees perceive their work environment, changes that are ongoing or any other relevant topic? Asking means truly asking, not just doing another bi-yearly Employee Satisfaction Survey and addressing criticisms with pseudo-actions that were planned all along as part of standard management practice.

How about implementing a well-managed and regular Employee Sounding Board that represents the organization’s diversity, is led by a credible personality and supported by a process for following up on questions and suggestions? And don’t be afraid: though people expect their voice to be heard, they don’t assume that every single suggestion or request will be implemented.